The Joshua Tree - U2

OK - I was driving to my yoga class on Saturday and needed an 80's fix- luckily I had in my CD player some U2- "The Joshua Tree" was set and playing to Track 6 - "Red Hill Mining Town", and I was belting out the notes from behind the wheel.

Here's an extract from the 1987 Time Magagine article on U2 called "Rock's Hottest Ticket" which I think perfectly summarises U2:

"This is a band that believes rock music has moral imperatives and social responsibilities. There is no one better than U2 at bringing "over there" back "over here," and setting it down right by the front door, where no one can miss it."

I got to thinking that after some 23 years later, this album sounds just as good as it did back in 1987. The sound and music sounds as much 1990's and 2010 as it does 1987 - my point is the sound and music is still relevant today as it was back in 1987.

Now this album is one of my faves and if you look at my sidebar you'd see a list of  "Top Albums That Were Influential In My Life" - and at the top is - drum roll please - the album of the moment.

When I think back I remember my brother,  sister and myself having two copies of this album. Apparantly my sis and bro got this album at the same time and well- we still have our vinyl copies (yes folks - CD's were too modern for us back then and the technology was just being heard of).

This album had two #1's ("With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") and also spawned "Where The Streets Have No Name". Most people might say these songs are their faves, but for me, the best track is "Red Hill Mining Town", followed by "I Trip Through Your Wires"and then "In God's Country".

A few years ago I would have had a different list -  my favourite song would have been "Running To Stand Still"followed by "One Tree Hill" - but every time I take a listen to this album every song has the same freshness as it did about 25 years ago, but with a different take on it.

For me, this is the reason why I think this album is so good. In addition, U2 explored on this album everything from blues, folk , americana, plain old rock n' roll, acoustic and alternative. They explored the "Mothers of the Disappeared" to war, self-discovery, hope, politics, drugs, human nature and fraility.

This album was heard on mainstream rock, modern rock and pop stations and even today these are staples on radio. The band was also on heavy rotation on MTV as well.

It's a classic 80's album, it's a classic all-time album, and it is a masterpiece for the poetry of words, music and it's reflection of time. Is it any wonder that this band made it to the cover of TIME magazine, who hailed the band as "Rock's Hottest Ticket".

Here's some other links to U2 that you might enjoy:

The Most Influential Artists of the 80's
Best Rock Artists

Anyway peeps - hope you enjoyed. TTYL!!